BASCO, BATANES — To tackle healthcare access challenges in the Philippines’ northernmost province, the PCSO is set to deploy a landing craft vessel (LCV) in Batanes later this year. The initiative, aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s healthcare accessibility goals, aims to improve patient transport across the province’s scattered islands.
Describing it as a “mini RORO,” PCSO General Manager Melquiades “Mel” Robles explained that the vessel can load ambulances directly, allowing patients to stay inside from pickup to hospital. The LCV will transport patients, medical teams, and essential supplies between islands, such as Basco and Sabtang, providing timely care in emergencies.
“This is a true door-to-door medical service,” Robles said.
The program seeks to overcome mobility hurdles in isolated areas where sea conditions and limited transportation impede healthcare access. The LCV will augment PCSO’s existing patient transport vehicles that primarily serve land-based communities.
During a medical and dental mission in late March, PCSO provided free consultations, medicines, and AI-powered X-ray screenings to residents in Sabtang and Basco, highlighting the continued need for reliable patient transport. Batanes’ local officials welcomed the LCV, noting its role in strengthening healthcare delivery for the province’s roughly 18,000 residents.
